penalty kill does our job and we break even on the night not allowing a

PHILADELPHIA – Teammates in Los Angeles, Jonathan Bernier had a sense of what Wayne Simmonds might attempt when the two squared off in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Hauled down by Paul Ranger with fewer than four ticks left in the second period of a tie game, Simmonds was promptly shut down by the closed pads of Bernier in what proved to be a game-changing penalty shot. “Hes got a great backhand too,” Bernier smiled after his Leafs debut, a 31-save gem that sealed a 3-1 win, the second in as many nights for Toronto. “I remember that. I was hoping he was going to shoot it.” Passed over for the opening night start in Montreal just a day earlier, Bernier was a sponge in the Leafs crease, absorbing a barrage of shots from a feisty Flyers group, his team eventually finding their way in the third frame en route to victory and a perfect 2-0-0 start to the season. “The puck just seems to stick to him,” Joffrey Lupul said afterward of Bernier. “Especially on point shots through traffic or tipped, it just seems to always be right around him.” “He just battled,” added Randy Carlyle, the Leafs surviving six of seven Flyer power-plays, including three in a turbulent opening frame. “Any of the loose pucks that were around he seemed to have the ability to scoop up, be it with his trapper or his blocker. He grabbed pucks. When there were loose pucks around, they didnt get many second opportunities.” And when they did manage those opportunities, Bernier held strong. With the Flyers on the hunt of their fourth man advantage early in the second frame it was the Quebec netminder turning aside multiple whacks from Vincent Lecavalier and Matt Read, the score remaining a misleading 1-0 for the home side. Holding strong early and often, his efforts were eventually rewarded late in the second frame when Phil Kessel buried his first of the season to knot the score at one. It was less than three minutes later though that Simmonds was awarded the penalty shot – 3.1 seconds left on the clock – a simmering Philadelphia crowd about to bubble over with their team on the attack and the period about to close. The game lingered on the line, a goal from Simmonds sure to turn the tides in the Flyers favour heading into the third and final frame. “Those are momentum swings that can carry a team into the room and I think with him stopping the penalty shot [it] gave our room an extra boost between the second and third,” Carlyle said. “He made it look pretty easy,” Lupul added of the stop on Simmonds. Dave Bolland would score the go-ahead goal minutes into the third, his first as a Leaf and first of two on the evening, all that Bernier would need to preserve victory. On the hunt for the No. 1 gig in Toronto after years as a backup with the Kings, it was a fine first showing for the 25-year-old. How it skews the early race for starting duties will certainly prove curious in the days ahead, the home opener with Ottawa looming at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday. Five Points 1. More pucks for Bernier Bernier better get used to seeing more rubber in Toronto than he did in Los Angeles. The Kings gave up the third fewest shots per game last season, a direct contrast to the Leafs, who finished fourth-worst overall, yielding more than 32 per night. Over the past two seasons – a stretch that includes 25 starts – Bernier faced more 30 shots on only four occasions, winning three of the four starts. 2. Carlyles choice Berniers impressive performance may not be enough to earn him the start on Saturday if past history is the judge for Carlyle. James Reimer has simply sizzled in his career against the Senators, highlighted by a 8-1-1 career mark with a 1.69 goals against average and .949 save percentage. 3. Bolland rises With Claude Giroux occupying the first line centre spot for the Flyers and Lecavalier manning the second hole, Carlyle made the decision at the outset of the second frame to flip Bolland onto a second unit with Lupul and Nik Kulemin, replacing the youthful Nazem Kadri. “We felt that having the flexibility to put Bolland up there gives us another competitive veteran guy to play up against those guys,” Carlyle explained of bumping Bolland up in the lineup. Finding a quick favourite in the head coach, Bolland sparked the unit, beating Steve Mason in tight on a feed from Lupul early in the third before icing the proceedings late with his second of the evening. Shortly after the trade with Chicago went down this past summer, GM Dave Nonis hinted at growth potential for Bolland offensively – hes scored 15 or more three times – an early sampling perhaps of such sentiments on Wednesday night. “Hes a solid player,” Lupul noted of Bolland, who played 16 minutes. “I knew that playing against him, watching him in the playoffs a lot. Hes going to do things right in his own end … [And] he showed he can go to the net and finish as well.” 4. Bernier impressions Lupul observed before the game that Bernier oozed “calm” in the crease, both in handling incoming shots and limiting rebounds. Also noticeable to the 30-year-old was Berniers proficiency with the puck. “Hes really confident handling the puck which I think can help our defence out a lot going back to retrieve pucks,” the winger said, prior to Wednesdays match with the Flyers. “Hes pretty good at getting out there behind [the net] and hitting the open man.” Added Cody Franson of that ability, “I think anytime a goalie has confidence handling a puck, its going to help us. It doesnt make us go back quite as much for pucks and it can help us spread their offence out a little bit. Thats definitely a plus.” 5. Fraser injury, Rielly opening? Mere seconds after he laid a high-stick on Zac Rinaldo did Mark Fraser take an awkward hit from former Leaf Jay Rosehill. Fraser twisted his left knee on the play and did not return. He left the Wells Fargo Center on crutches and will have a further assessment done on Thursday. An injury to the Ottawa native could spell an opening for Morgan Rielly, who sat in the press-box for a second straight night. “Right now they want him to practice and keep picking up some things at practice,” Lupul said of the 19-year-old Rielly. “Hes going to be in there eventually. Obviously they didnt keep him here from junior to sit in the press-box all year so hes going to get his opportunity and its his job to be ready and I think he will be.” Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-2 PK: 6-7 Quote of the Night “The one call on Colton Orr, I dont know. Im not going to get myself fined but holy crow. Giroux spun to turn around and fell and we got a penalty for it.” -Randy Carlyle on the penalties his club faced against the Flyers, including an early tripping call to Colton Orr. Up Next The Leafs host the Senators in their home opener on Saturday. 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At this rate, the Flyers captain is set to be remembered more for a fantastic finish.MINSK, Belarus - Cody Hodgson was in the right place at the right time for his hat trick in Canadas 6-1 drubbing of Denmark on Thursday. In the big picture of his career, Hodgson is also right where he wants to be at the age of 24 and is showing it at the world hockey championship. "Just feeling more comfortable," Hodgson said at Chizhovka Arena after his three-goal performance. "I enjoy playing this game, I love playing hockey and when youre healthy and able to do everything you feel like you can do and your body translates what your mind wants, its fun." Hodgson is healthy again after being bothered by back injuries earlier in his career and then wrist and thumb problems this past season. In leading the way past Denmark, the Buffalo Sabres forward showed glimpses of the player scouts projected hed become as the 10th pick in the 2008 draft. "Earlier in his career, (for) young players its hard to jump in, especially with high expectations," coach Dave Tippett said. "And then he had some injury issues, I think it was some back issues, that really probably hurt his development. Youre starting to see a player now - even (if) he got lots of opportunity in Buffalo this year, put up some points - come here (and) hes playing on a line with some good players and (being) opportunistic." Hodgson scored Canadas first two goals against Denmark, and Matt Read scored twice to break the game open. Jonathan Huberdeau had his first of the tournament before Hodgson finished off the hat trick on the power play. "Sometimes youve got to get lucky to score, but Ill take em," Hodgson said. Tippetts word - opportunistic - might be better. Hodgsons first goal came about when he poked the puck past Danish defender and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Lauridsen, and his second came after a giveaway wound up right on his stick between the circles. It took skill to finish those plays. "Those first two goals were good shots," Tippett said. "Their goaltenders out and square, but when you shoot it quick like that, it makes it hard on the goaltender. Thats who Cody is: Hes a guy that weve got him in a situation where hes going to get some opportunities with the players hes playing with, and its great to see him capitalize on some of those opportunities." Hodgson just happened to pick a game with five Vancouver Canucks on the ice to shine. While the former Canucks draft pick was the star of the game, Nicklas Jensen scored Denmarks only goal, and Jannik Hansen made sure to give Hodgson a friendly bump while he was giving interviews afterward. Traded to Buffalo in exchange for Zack KKassian at the 2012 trade deadline, Hodgson had nothing but good things to say about his time in Vancouver.ddddddddddddHe still trains with Chris Tanev and felt fortunate to see a bunch of former teammates when the Sabres were in town this past season. Hodgson had a career high 44 points in 72 games after putting up 34 in the lockout-shortened 2013 NHL season. Those 34 points and his potential earned him a US$25.5-million, six-year contract that also saddled him with even higher expectations. Sabres fans had plenty to smile about Thursday at the world championship, not only with Hodgsons hat trick but a strong game from Zemgus Girgensons as Ted Nolans Latvian team beat the United States 6-5 at Minsk Arena. While the U.S. is struggling in Group B, Hodgson helped Canada to its third victory in four games. Up next is Italy on Friday before Sundays showdown with Sweden. Tippett said Thursday evening he didnt know which goaltender would start against Italy. Ben Scrivens stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in beating Denmark, while James Reimer has 57 saves on 63 shots over two starts. Beyond a scoring explosion of four goals in under 10 minutes keyed by Reads first goal midway through the third, Canada showed some more improvements in routing Denmark. For the first time in four games, it did not give up a goal on the penalty kill, and Read even scored short-handed. "Weve been focusing on it the last two days, our penalty kill," Read said. "A lot of teams they rely on their good power play, they know how to move the puck very well and if our penalty kill does our job and we break even on the night not allowing a goal or getting a goal, thats a plus for us." A minus is the four penalties Canada took that wouldve been more costly had this been an elimination game against a stronger opponent. "I think (weve) just got to play more (a) intelligent (game)," Huberdeau said. "Its some bad penalties. I had a bad penalty, so I think its (important) to keep skating and when you have the puck you wont take any penalties." Despite the penalties, Canada had no trouble rolling over Denmark. But Hodgson hopes he and his teammates are just warming up offensively. "It doesnt matter what we did now," he said. "Its what happens in the medal rounds, thats when the serious hockey begins." Notes: Danish captain Morten Green was honoured before puck drop for playing in his 257th career international game. This broke a record for Denmarks national team previously held by Jesper Damgaard. ... Canada won 62.3 per cent of its faceoffs and outshot Denmark 46-30. Danish goaltender Patrick Galbraith made 40 saves. ' ' '